You will choose a topic to research; you will spend
time in the library researching your topic; and you will produce a final
project presenting your research that follows a proper format for
research.

Purposes
of the Project

To
learn to use a variety of sources in looking for information

This
includes books, computers, encyclopedias, and various indexes to information.

To
learn to find what’s useful among different kinds of information

Separating what’s truthful,
factual, reliable, relevant, and useful from the swamp of information available
to you.

To learn
to synthesize and use information

NOT plagiarizing or
copying, not even re-stating in your own words, but using information to help say what you want to say
about a topic.

To
learn to present the results of serious research

This includes…grammar and
spelling, formatting, punctuation, and mechanics,

quoting, notes, and bibliography
form, and other style matters, such as spacing and margins.

Your
Topic

Of course, you’ll also want to learn some interesting and/or
useful things about a topic you are interested in.You can choose a topic from the list you will be given, or you
can choose your own topic not on the list, with your teacher’s permission.

Your
Schedule

Please put all of this information into your agenda!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

2 DECEMBER

Introduction &

Topic Choosing Hints

3

Writing
Workshop

Overall
form and Bibliography tips

4

Reading
Workshop

5

More on Choosing a Topic

Select
a preliminary topic

6

9

LIBRARY

Skills lesson

1st Period

10

Writing
Workshop

Research
tips and organization

11

Reading
Workshop

12

LIBRARY

Research

1st Period

13

16

LIBRARY

Research

1st Period

17

Writing
Workshop

You
can’t change your topic after today.

18

Reading
Workshop

19

LIBRARY

Research

1st Period

20

Winter Holiday

13 JANUARY

Review and planning

14

Writing
Workshop

Writing
a good intro & adding a personal touch

15

Reading
Workshop

16

Time to plan & write

17

20

Planning & Writing

21

Writing
Workshop

Writing!

22

Reading
Workshop

23

LIBRARY

Last chance!

24

Your project is DUE ON MONDAY!

27

PROJECT IS DUE!

Oral
Presentations then begin.

You’ll get the
assignment in class, and have some time to prepare in class.

Requirements
for the Final Project

In your research, you must consult at least four
sources of different types:

1
encyclopedia

1 book

1
internet source

1
other (CD-ROM, vertical file, interview, magazine article, etc.)

The final copy should be 1,800-2,000 words in length.(This does not include labels for diagrams,
timelines, an appendix, bibliography, etc.)Projects that are well under or well over this range will be penalized.Narrow or expand your topic appropriately.

The final copy must be typed, double-spaced, using a
sensible font.

Or, you can neatly hand-write the final copy,
following correct formatting.

The final project should have a cover, with an
illustration.

There must be a Table of Contents page at the beginning
of the paper.

The pages of your project must be numbered.

The must be a properly formatted bibliography at the end.

The project should be handed in in some kind of report
cover or folder.

NOTE:

WITH YOUR PROJECT, you
must hand in EVERY PIECE OF PAPER connected to the project—all notes,
pre-writing, jottings, drafts, photocopies (like this one), printouts,
brainstorming, etc., WHETHER IT ENDED UP IN YOUR FINAL PROJECT OR NOT.Put all this paper in a SEPARATE folder or
plastic sleeve labeled with your name and class.

Grading

(The grading criteria closely follow the purposes of the
project, above.)

There are three separate grades for the project.Use this criteria list as a checklist for
yourself:

I. Research Process

Did
you listen to the librarian during the library skills lessons?

Did
you use your research time well?

Did
you use your class in time well?

Did
you use at least four different resources?

Did
you use a variety of resources, according to the requirements?

Did
you show a knowledge of how to use different resources in the library?

II. Use of Information

Did
you choose information wisely?

DID
YOU USE ANY INFORMATION WITHOUT GIVING PROPER CREDIT?

Did
you take good notes that summarized the useful parts of your information?

Did
you use your information, instead of merely repeating it in your
paper?

Did
you use any charts, illustrations, or diagrams only to help your paper?

Is
your bibliography an accurate reflection of your research?

III. Presentation of Information

Is
your paper neat?Does it look
appropriate?

Is the
grammar correct?Is the spelling
correct?

Did
you use the correct format, margins, double-spacing, etc.?

Is
your project complete?Is all work
included in a separate notebook or folder?